Samantha Simmons

Principal Scientist & Head of People

Email: ses@smruconsulting.com

Sam joined SMRU Consulting in June 2022. She is a marine biologist by training with an emphasis on marine mammal biology. Born and raised in the UK, she completed her BSc. (Hons.) In Marine and Environmental Biology at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 2000 before pursuing her graduate studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) in 2001, where she earned a Master’s in Marine Science and then a PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. Her research interests consider behaviour and success of marine mammals (primarily pinnipeds) concerning their environment and any impacts (including cumulative) from natural or anthropogenic stressors. In June of 2009, she joined the US Marine Mammal Commission. She spent 13 years advising on the use of best available science in US regulatory, policy, and management decisions affecting marine mammals.

  • Degrees and Education

    • 2008 PhD in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

    • 2003 MSc Marine Science, University of California, Santa Cruz

    • 2000 BSc Hons Marine and Environmental Biology, University of St. Andrews, Scotland

    Skills and Expertise

    Thirteen years of experience identifying and using the best available science to inform US management and policy decisions affecting marine mammals.

    A detailed understanding of the US legislative and policy environment with respect to federal activities and their possible impacts on marine mammals.

    A proven track record collaborating with and convening industry, non-government organizations, and government representatives.

    Strategic program leadership and project management across a diverse portfolio of scientific and research activities related to all species of marine mammals from basic biology and life history to understanding population level impacts.

  • Pirotta E, Thomas L, Costa DP, Hall AJ, Harris C, Harwood J, Kraus SD, Miller PJ, Moore M, Photopoulou T, Rolland R, Schwacke L, Simmons SE, Southall BL, and Tyack P. (2022). Understanding the combined effects of multiple stressors: a new perspective on a longstanding challenge. Science of the Total Environment 821:153322

    McMahon, CR, Roquet, F, Baudel, S, Belbeoch, M, Bestley, S, Blight, C, Boehme, L, Carse, F, Costa, DP, Fedak, MA, Guinet, C, Harcourt, R, Heslop, E, Hindell, MA, Hoenner, X, Holland, K, Holland, M, Jaine, FRA, Jeanniard du Dot, T, Jonsen, I, Keates, TR, Kovacs, KM, Labrousse, S, Lovell, P, Lydersen, C, March, D, Mazloff, M, McKinzie, MK, Muelbert, MMC, O’Brien, K, Phillips, L, Portela, E, Pye, J, Rintoul, S, Sato, K, Sequeira, AMM, Simmons, SE, Tsontos, VM, Turpin, V, van Wijk, E, Vo, D, Wege, M, Whoriskey, FG, Wilson, K, and Woodward, B. (2021). Animal Borne Ocean Sensors – AniBOS – An Essential Component of the Global Ocean Observing System. Frontiers in Marine Science 8, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.751840

    Satterthwaite EV, Bax NJ, Miloslavich P, Ratnarajah L, Canonico G, Dunn D, Simmons SE, Carini RJ, Evans K, Allain V, Appeltans W, Batten S, Benedetti-Cecchi L, Bernard ATF, Bristol S, Benson A, Buttigieg PL, Gerhardinger LC, Chiba S, Davies TE, Duffy JE, Giron-Nava A, Hsu AJ, Kraberg AC, Kudela RM, Lear D, Montes E, Muller-Karger FE, O’Brien TD, Obura D, Provoost P, Pruckner S, Rebelo L-M, Selig ER, Kjesbu OS, Starger C, Stuart-Smith RD, Vierros M, Waller J, Weatherdon LV, Wellman TP and Zivian A. (2021). Establishing the Foundation for the Global Observing System for Marine Life. Frontiers in Marine Science 8, 1508.

    Sequeira AMM, O’Toole M, Keates TR, McDonnell LH, Braun CD, Hoenner X, Jaine FRA, Jonsen ID, Newman P, Pye J, Bograd SJ, Hays GC, Hazen EL, Holland M, Tsontos V, Blight C, Cagnacci F, Davidson SC, Dettki H, Duarte CM, Dunn DC, Eguíluz VM, Fedak MA, Gleiss AC, Hammerschlag N, Hindell MA, Holland K, Janekovic I, McKinzie MK, Muelbert MMC, Pattiaratchi C, Rutz C, Sims DW, Simmons SE, Townsend B, Whoriskey F, Woodward B, Costa DP, Heupel MR, McMahon CR, Harcourt R, and Weise MJ.(2021) A Standardisation Framework for Bio-logging Data to Advance Ecological Research and Conservation. Methods in Ecology and Evolution 12: 996–1007

    Keates TR, Kudela, RM, Holser, RR, Huckstadt, LA, Simmons, SE and Costa, DP (2019) Chlorophyll fluorescence as measured in situ by animal-borne instruments in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Journal of Marine Systems: 203:103265

    Martien KK, Lang AR, Taylor BL, Rosel PE, Simmons SE, Oleson EM, Boveng PL, and Hanson MB (2019) The DIP Delineation Handbook: A Guide to Using Multiple Lines of Evidence to Delineate Demographically Independent Populations of Marine Mammals. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS SWFSC: 622.

    Goetsch, C, Conners, M, Budge, SM, Mitani, Y, Walker, W, Bromaghin, J, Simmons, SE, Reichmuth, C, and Costa, DP (2018) Energy-Rich Mesopelagic Fishes Revealed as a Critical Prey Resource for a Deep-Diving Predator using Quantitative Fatty Acid Signature Analysis. Frontiers in Marine Science. Front. Mar. Sci., 20 November 2018 https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2018.00430

    Harrison, AL, Costa, DP, Winship, AJ, Benson, SR, Bograd, SJ, Carlisle, AB, Dewar, H, Dutton, PH, Jorgensen, SJ, Antolos, M, Kohin, S, Mate, BR, Robinson, PW, Shaffer, SA, Shillinger, GL, Simmons, SE, Weng, KC, Gjerde, KM, and Block, BA (2018) The Political Biogeography of Migratory Marine Predators. Nature Ecology and Evolution 2:1571-1578.

    Pirotta, E, Booth, CG, Costa, DP, Fleishman, E, Krause, K, Lusseau, D, Moretti, D, New, L, Schick, RS, Schwarz, LK, Simmons, SE, Thomas, L, Tyack, PL, Weise, MJ, Wells, RS, and Harwood, J (2018). Understanding the population consequences of disturbance. Ecology and Evolution. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4458

    Block, BA, Holbrook, CM, Simmons, SE, Holland, KN, Ault, JS, Costa, DP, Mate, BR, Seitz, AC, Arendt, MD, Payne, J, Mahmoudi, B, Moore, P, Price, JM, Levenson, JJ, Wilson, D, Kochevar, RE (2016) Toward a national Animal Telemetry Network for aquatic observations in the United States. Animal Biotelemetry 4 :6

    Maresh, JL, Simmons, SE, Crocker, DE, McDonald, BI, Williams, TM and Costa DP (2014) Free-swimming northern elephant seals have low field metabolic rates that are sensitive to an increased cost of transport. Journal of Experimental Biology. 217: 1485-1495

    New, LF, Moretti, DJ, Hooker, SK, Costa, DP and Simmons, SE (2013) Using energetic models to investigate the survival and reproduction of beaked whales (family Ziphiidae). PLoSONE 8(7): e68725.

    Simmons, SE, Tremblay, Y and Costa, DP (2009) Pinnipeds as ocean temperature samplers: calibrations, validations and data quality. Limnology and Oceanography Methods, 7:648-656.

  • Survey of Federally Funded Marine Mammal Research (USA)

    Marine Mammal Health Monitoring and Analysis Platform (Health MAP, USA)

    Steering Committee member for the Animal Borne Ocean Sensors network (AniBOS)

    Global Ocean Observing System, marine mammal Essential Ocean Variable (EOV)

    Evaluating the Cumulative Impact of Multiple Stressors on Cetaceans Monitoring and Adaptive Management – Sperm whales and oceanic dolphins in the Gulf of Mexico (NOAA-NMFS)

    Support on UK offshore wind farm consenting (environmental impact assessments).

    Predators and Prey Around Renewable Energy Developments (PrePARED) – Offshore Wind Evidence and Change funded.

  • Phone: +44 (0) 1334 466011

    Email: ses@smruconsulting.com

    Mail: Scottish Oceans Institute

    East Sands

    University of St Andrews

    KY16 8LB

    Scotland